A preliminary investigation revealed the cause of the wildfire along Pauline Road in Montgomery and San Jacinto Counties can be attributed to a prescribed burn.

An estimated 1,200-acre wildfire at the Sam Houston National Forest prompted calls for evacuations Wednesday near Cleveland, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. The Montgomery County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management said residents who live near Lee Turner Road,

Prescribed burns are regularly conducted by fire specialists in Texas forests in an effort to clear ground-level foliage and maintain healthy landscapes. The burns are a cost-effective way to reduce fuel loading in the event of a large-scale wildfire.